towers historical ireland

The early Christian monastery of St Daig is marked by the only surviving feature, a Round Tower, which can be seen in the village.

In the 12th century the Augustinians built another monastery on higher ground alongside the Norman Motte which stands above the village.

Little remains of the monastery....

A spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars.

Features include an audio visual show entitled "Strongholds of Faith", which is available in English, French, Italian and German as well as various other exhibitions.

Please note that this is a very busy site and visitors m...

The foundation of the first monastery is attributed to St. Cronan, otherwise called Mo-Chua, who lived possibly in the 6th century. The monastery is first mentioned in 776.
It was plundered by the Vikings in 832. In 1076 the southern half of Ireland demanded the expulsion of O'Ronain from the abbacy as it was claimed that he held it against the rightful abbot.

This probably means that the monastery had fallen into lay hands by that time. The most important remnant of the monaste...

Ardmore is the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. St. Declan lived in the period 350-450 AD and christianised this area before the coming of St. Patrick. St. Declan's feast day is "Pattern Day" every 24th of July....

A Round Tower on a point at the entrance to the seaport, looking exactly like one of Ireland's medieval monastic towers is 92 ft high and built of granite. It commemorates James Chaine MP 'father of the port' who (as the inscription says) linked Larne with the United States.

On the Curran point, where the Stone Age flint implements may still be found, stands the shell of Olderfleet Castle, a 13th century ruin.

The construction of the famous Antrim Coast Road is explained a...

Imposing, gothic Style buildings near Lismore surrounded by pleasant wodland walks and picnic area. The small castle is not open to the public....

A well-preserved Round Tower, which stands to a height of 92 feet, though the conical cap was reset after the tower was struck by lightening in 1819. It has one unique feature: a ringed cross carved in relief on a stone above the lintel of the doorway on the north-eastern portion of the tower. The cross does not help us to date the tower which, however, is likely to have been built in the 10th or 11th century. Together with a large bullaun stone nearby, it is the only monumental survivor of a...

For many, Round towers have come to be seen as a symbol of Ireland and a direct link with the glories of the monastic era. The Glendalough Round Tower is probably the finest surviving example in Ireland. Over 40 metres in height and with a circumference of 16 metres, access is through a doorway 3.5 metres above ground. Built for the dual purposes of serving as a watch-tower and place of refuge during the period of the Viking invasions, the tower was restored in 1876, the conical cap being reb...

St Declan founded Ireland's earliest Christian settlement in Ardmore in 416 A.D. before the arrival of St Patrick. The 12th Century Round Tower, is 29m high and is the best example of an Irish Round Tower. The carvings on the West Gable of the Cathedral are special to Ardmore and depict Biblical scenes, as well as scenes from the early Christianisation of Ardmore. Nearby are St Declan's Grave (Beannachan). Ogham Stones, St. Declan's Stone and St. Declan's Well (Hermitage). The Round Tower...